One of the most widespread myths about exercise is that it will allow you to «eat what you want» without gaining weight. When a very active person eats in large quantities, there is no shortage of those who say that they «can» do it because they exercise a lot. However, this myth is false. Not all the exercise in the world can fight a poor diet or a lethargic metabolism.
Let’s go in parts: people gain weight when we consume more calories than we expend, so if your exercise routine burns between 200 and 500 calories a day, you can add about 400 calories to your food intake per day without problems and without gaining weight. However, if you go over that amount, even if you continue to exercise, you will gain weight. That is to say, the important thing is to achieve the balance between the calories you eat and the calories you expend.
But that’s not all, because metabolism also plays a very important role in this equation. A slow metabolism will not burn the same number of calories as a faster one. and for your metabolism to work properly you not only need to exercise but also have good eating habits, drink enough fluids and get enough rest.
Another important factor is the amount of body fat; even at rest, muscle burns many more calories than fat, so people who exercise consistently «get lean» even when they’re not doing anything, but to keep their muscles healthy they must eat foods high in protein. Again, food is essential.
If you want your metabolism to activate, in addition to physical activity you should consume foods such as apples, white fish and green leafy vegetables. Remember that no exercise routine can counteract the effects of a high-calorie diet based on junk food.